CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course provides a
study of religion and the nature of religious belief and practice.

COURSE PURPOSE: This course seeks to acquaint
the student with the nature and diversity of religious experience within
culture through the academic study of religion and the role of religious
studies within a liberal arts education. In this course, we will consider
both western and non-western religious traditions.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
Students who successfully complete REL 101 with 70% accuracy or better
will have demonstrated the ability required to accomplish some or all of the
following objectives:

Describe and apply a basic conceptual
framework of religious experience to the academic study of religion.

Describe the impact of religion on
contemporary American culture.

Explain how religious studies
inter-connect with other academic disciplines in Arts and Sciences.

Explain the descriptive approach to
the human religious experience.

CampusCruiser: It is my policy to use CampusCruiser
for communication and class material. The CampusCruiser page for this course
will include a link to a Website with lecture notes and supplementary
material. Please remember that lecture notes are only notes. You are
responsible for all material presented in class.

There will be three quizzes during the semester.
Each quiz will consist of an in-class test with objective questions
(true-false, multiple choice, matching, etc.) and a take-home essay question.
The take-home questions will be assigned on week before the exam and must be
submitted on the day of the exam for full credit.

Class work participation: (20% of your grade).

In this class you will be expected
to complete a number of in-class assignments. Some of these will be completed
in groups while others can be done individually. These learning activities will
serve as the basis for class lectures and discussion. Since these are in-class
assignments, you are not able to make up missed assignments. The two lowest grades
will be dropped, however.

Final Exam (20% of your grade)

Although the final exam will be cumulative, a
large part will be derived from the last section of the course. Like the quizzes,
the final will include short answer, true-false, matching, and multiple choice
questions. There will also be a take-home discussion question.

Making up quizzes.

Quizzes that are missed for an excused absence may be made
up. The instructor may require documentation (e.g. a doctor’s excuse) to
verify that an absence was unavoidable. Missed quizzes should be made up within
a week of the original quiz date. Take-home discussion questions that are not
submitted on the due date will be penalized 10 points.

Schedule of Topics

Please note: this
is a tentative schedule and may be revised

Date

Topic

January 8

Introductions: Chapter One: What is Religion?

January15

No Class: MLK, Jr. Day

January 22

Chapter 1: Ways of Studying Religion

January 29

Chapter 2: The Sacred and the Holy

Review for Quiz

February 5

Quiz 1 (Chapters 1-2)

Begin Chapter 3

Feburary 12

Chapter 4: Sacred Ritual

February 19

Chapter 5: Sacred Scripture

February 26

Chapter 6: Society and the Sacred

March 5

Quiz 2 (Chapter 3-6)

Begin Chapter 7: Concepts of the Divine

March 12

Chapter 8: Cosmogony

March 19

Chapter 9: Anthropology

March 26

Chapter 10: Theodicy

April 2

NO CLASS Spring Break

April 9

Quiz 3(Chapters 7-10)

Begin Chapter 11

April 16

Chapter 11: Ethics: Patterns of Moral Behavior

April 23

Chapter 12: Soteriology: Ways and Goals of Savlation

April 30

Review and catch up

May 7

FINAL EXAM

Humanities Departmental Policy
Pages

ACADEMIC HONESTY: All forms of cheating on tests, plagiarism, collusion and
falsification of information will call for discipline. Any student involved in
any of these activities will, at a minimum, receive a grade of “0” for that
portion of the course. This grade will be computed in the final course grade.
Any student who is suspended or expelled due to an act of academic dishonesty
will have the right of due process.

1. Cheating on tests is defined to include the
following:

(a)Copying from another student’s test
paper.

(b)Using materials during a test not
authorized by the person giving the test.

(c)Collaborating with any other person
during a test without permission.

(d)Knowingly obtaining, using, buying,
selling, transporting or soliciting in whole or in part the contents of an
un-administered test.

(e)Bribing any person to obtain tests
or information about tests.

(f)Substituting for another student or
permitting any other person to substitute for oneself.

“Plagiarism” is defined as the appropriation of any
other person’s work and the unacknowledged incorporation of that work in
one’s own work offered for credit.

“Collusion” is defined as the unauthorized collaboration
with any other person in preparing work offered for credit.

ATTENDANCE: Class attendance is necessary in
order to receive maximum benefits from courses and to have successful academic
performance. It is the student’s responsibility to attend class and to be
punctual. A student may be administratively withdrawn if more than 10
percent of the contact hours in a given course are missed. If the limit has
been exceeded, the instructor MAY (not will) administratively withdraw
the student. VA benefits and other financial aid may be affected by a
student’s excessive absences. Additionally, students should not assume that,
because they stop attending classes, the instructor will administratively
withdraw them from class based on the college's attendance policy. Dropping
and Adding Classes: Students may drop or add classes during the add/drop
period of each term. Courses dropped during this period will not appear on the
transcript. After the Add/Drop period but prior to the end of the day on the
last day to withdraw, students may withdraw from one or more classes. The
student will receive a grade of "W". If a student stops attending
class and fails to drop or withdraw from the class officially, he or she will
receive a grade of "F" for that course regardless of the grade
average at the time the student last attended.

CLASS PARTICIPATION: Class discussions relevant to the course are encouraged;
however, students must respect the freedom of the instructor to teach and the
rights of other students to learn. Disruptive behavior is unacceptable; this
includes persistent tardiness, rudeness, irrelevant class interruptions, etc.

CLOSINGS: Greenville Tech will follow the schedule announced by the Greenville County School District (public schools) with regard to DAY classes that meet Monday-Friday. If the school district announces that classes
are cancelled because of inclement weather, day classes at Greenville Tech will
be cancelled. If the school district announces a delayed opening or early
dismissal because of inclement weather, day classes at Greenville Tech will
begin or be dismissed (as the case may be) at the same time. The college will
determine its own schedule with regard to night and weekend classes. (Night
classes are considered to be those with a start time of 5 p.m. or later,
Monday-Fridays.) The cancellation or delay of day classes will not result in the automatic cancellation or delay of night or weekend classes.
Prior to 3 p.m. on a day of inclement weather, announcements will be sent to
area news media by designated college personnel if night classes are going to
be cancelled or delayed on that date. Announcements concerning the cancellation
or delay of weekend classes will be made as soon as possible. Students may
call the College’s switchboard (864-250-8000) for a recorded message.

COMPUTING FACILITIES USE POLICY

Student access to computing facilities is provided only for
uses associated with a course of study and activities related to that course.
The use of computing facilities for non-college related purposes is prohibited.
All who use computing facilities agree to do so in a manner which is ethical,
legal and does not interfere with others. See College Catalog and
Student Handbook. In acknowledging the course syllabus, you are accepting
the following statement:

“I
understand that violation of this policy constitutes a violation of the
Student Code for South Carolina Technical Colleges and may result in
progressive disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the
College.”

EVALUATION METHODS AND SCHEDULES: Written tests and other assignments
will be used to determine the course grade. Specifics are described on a
tentative course schedule. Graded material generally will be returned within
one week.

GRADING SCALE: The following grades are used in calculating Grade Point
Averages:

A = Excellent (90+) earns credit hours; carries a value of
four grade points for each credit hour.

B = Above Average (80-89) earns credit hours; carries a
value of three grade points for each credit hour.

C = Average (70-79) earns credit hours; carries a value of
two grade points for each credit hour.

D = Below Average (60-69) earns credit hours; carries a
value of one grade point for each credit hour.

INCOMPLETE: “I” will be given only when a minor portion of work is
unfinished. The student is responsible for making up all unfinished course work
within the next semester. The student cannot re-enroll in the class until the
“I” has been replaced with a letter grade. The “I” will be changed to an “F”
one week before the beginning of exams in the next semester. “I” does not
affect grade calculations; earns no credit hours.

LIBRARY SERVICES: Written work as assignedby instructors to determine
a student’s ability to comprehend and analyze the course material will benefit
from a visit to the college library. There the student will find assistance
with research strategies, web research, and online periodicals, as well as hard
bound materials. The new EBSCO Information Services provides full text journal
articles from thousands of indexed academic journals.

MISCELLANEOUS REGULATIONS:

Beepers/Pagers: Devices such as beepers/pagers and personal cellular
phones are permitted on campus but must not be activated in
classrooms. These devices are not allowed in the testing center.

Firearms: Firearms are strictly prohibited at all times.

Students with Children: Students of the college may not bring
children to class or labs, or leave children unattended on campus. The college
assumes no responsibility for supervision of student's children.

STUDENTS DISABILITY SERVICES: Greenville Technical College is committed to providing equal opportunity for all students with disabilities and
assisting students in making their college experience successful in accordance
with Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.

Student Disability Services is
located in the Student Center (Building 105, Room 124) on the Barton Campus and
can be reached by phone at (864) 250-8202 and (864) 250 8408 (V/TTY), or by
email at Sharon. Bellwood@gvltec.edu. Appointments are available at the
Brashier, Greer and Northwest campuses.

STUDENT CONDUCT & DRESS: It is each student's responsibility
to be familiar with and observe the regulations set forth in the Student
Handbook and the Student Code for South Carolina Technical Colleges. SeeCollege Catalog and Student Handbook

STUDENT IDENTIFICATION CARDS: All students are required to
have a current Greenville Tech student identification card. The ID card must be
in the student's possession at all times when the student is on campus and must
be presented to any faculty, staff or administrative personnel upon request.

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR UNIVERSITY TRANSFER:

University Transfer Advising Center
– ARC 603; 250-8167

The Learning Center of Arts &
Sciences – UT (104) Room 131; 250-8241

The Math Center is open to any Greenville Tech student, faculty or staff member who needs help in
communicating with numbers or with mathematics courses. Math centers are
located on the following campuses: Barton (Building 104, Room 131, the Arts and
Sciences Learning Center). Brashier (Building 102, Room 133) and Greer
(Building 301, Room 125).

The Writing Center is open to any Greenville Tech student, instructor or staff member who needs help in
written or oral communications. The Writing Center is located in the University Transfer Building (Building 104, Room 131, and the Arts and Sciences Learning Center.

It is the student’s responsibility to complete the
course update, to obtain necessary signatures, and to turn the form in to
Student Records in order to accomplish withdrawal from class. A student can
withdraw (or may be administratively withdrawn for absences) with a grade of
“W” until the withdrawal date. After that date, withdrawals will not be
processed and students will receive earned course grades.

WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM:

All courses in this department require some written work to
assure competence in written communication.

NOTE: To maintain the best possible learning environment in this class, each student
is invited to contact me immediately if problems related to teaching and
learning occur. I am available during my office hours. If these times are
inconvenient for you, please speak with me before or after class to arrange an
appointment. Your comments, including concerns about my teaching, will be
addressed in a serious, professional manner. Students’ views help me to judge
whether I am meeting your educational needs. If, for any reason, you do not
want to share concerns with me or you are dissatisfied with my response, see
the following individuals:

Humanities
Dept. Head:

Mr. John Riley

Office:
UT 112-A

Phone:
250-8123

Associate
Dept. Head:

Dr.
Norman Raiford

Office:
UT 237

Phone:
250-8399

Dean of
Arts and Sciences:

Mrs.
Corrie Wiley

Office:
UT 105

Phone:
250-8187

Arts and
Sciences Advisor:

Mr.
Travis Gleaton

Office:
UT 116

Phone:
250-8137

Note: Your instructor will have you sign the “Syllabus
Acknowledgement and Compliance” form in class, which will read something like
this: “I have read the Syllabus and Departmental Policy Pages. I understand
what is expected of me in this class and agree to comply with the policies
indicated.”